Category: Articles

When it comes to receiving from God, according to His Word, it’s your move! God’s already moved and He’s waiting on you to step out in faith – make a move, respond to His word!

With God, if you keep moving, He’ll keep moving. You’ll always be moving forward; you can’t lose. However, when you quit moving, or quit speaking His Word, that’s when you start losing.

First Corinthians 4:7 says, “…what do you have that you did not receive?” The way you enjoy the blessings God’s provided for you is simply receive them by faith. It doesn’t matter where you were born or what your status is in life, God created you to enjoy His blessings. You can move from a position of defeat to a position of victory; however, you’ll have to make a move toward God to receive those blessings and benefits by faith.

God’s still God even though you go through trials and tribulations. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the midst of the biggest trial of your life – you’ve still got victory – because your story isn’t over! You still haven’t written the last two words at the end of your story!

When you get to the end of the test or trial, if you’re still in faith – believing God – there’s victory with your name on it!

Some Christians start out believing God, and then they get in the middle of a trial and say “I thought God was going to come through for me, but I guess He’s not.” When believers make that confession, they’ve just quit receiving from, and moving with God because they moved over into the arena of worry, doubt, fear, and unbelief. When they quit moving with God, God quits moving with them! It’s not that He wants to quit; He can’t move with worry, doubt, fear, and unbelief. He moves upon faith filled words. You must make the right moves by believing God and saying what His Word says about your situation.

To keep moving forward, you can’t speak doubt and unbelief and expect to receive from God, and you can’t earn God’s blessings through works. You receive by faith what God’s already done for you. Simply tap into the finished work!

Smith Wigglesworth says you can’t shout and doubt at the same time. Have you ever noticed that Jesus is going to descend from heaven with a shout? Do you remember when Jesus went to the tomb of Lazarus, He cried out with a loud voice?

In the book of Numbers we read that we can’t be cursed for the shout of a King is among us. In the Old Testament they were crowing a King; the Bible says that in the valley four miles away, there was a group gathering to try to take the throne and they heard the people shouting. They said “What’s that shout? What’s that noise?” They said, “It could only be the crowning of the New King!” That shout totally destroyed the mounting uprising.

Something happens in your life when you shout — the King gets crowned! So shout unto the Lord with a voice of triumph! Do it right now! He says, “Shout! For God has given us the city.” You need to understand that walls fall down when you shout! Cities are won when you shout! Kings are crowned when you shout, the dead rise up when you shout! The Lord descends when there’s a shout!

Simply start by saying, “Lord, I thank you for today!” Thank Him for what He’s done for you….”I thank you that my expectancy and faith levels are high, and coming up higher. I thank you that I’m hungry for more of you to be revealed in my life. Thank you for the blessings you’ve given my family. Thank you for the increase, the joy, the peace in my heart, the laugher that’s returned to my life. Thank you for restoration of my family. Thank you for restoration of my finances and my health. Thank you for the shout that you’ve put back on the inside of me! Thank you, Lord! Thank you that you made me more than a conqueror!”

As you thank God, keep in mind that thanking Him for what He’s done and what He’s going to do before you have it, is an expression of faith. It’s an act that you already believe you receive it. A shout of thanksgiving will cause the fullness of God to manifest in your life.

By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life. Proverbs 22:4 Honor is the central focus to all other principles of the Bible. Proverbs has much to say about honor and covenant by a wise man who’s teaching his son how to live a righteous life style.

Abraham was chosen by God to establish His covenant because He knew Abraham would teach his children to “keep the ways of the Lord”…or in other words, he would live a life based on and filled with honor for God. Genesis 18:17-19. When he did this, Abraham was in right-standing with God.

Proverbs 21:21 tells us that “He who pursues righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness and honor.” Jesus repeated these same words in Matthew 6:33, when He said, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” In these two verses we’re guaranteed that anyone who follows, or seeks, after mercy and righteousness (right-standing with God) will receive both with honor.

The person who gives will find life, dominion, authority, and honor. Matthew 10:39 reminds us “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.” In order to give, a person must make himself vulnerable just as Jesus did when He gave Himself on the cross for us. Losing sight of ourselves will cause us to find life. When he gives his life, or puts it at risk, when he make himself vulnerable obeying the Word of God, he places himself in a position in which God can trust him with dominion, authority, life, and honor.

To go a step further, the Word of God tells us that we are to honor one another in Romans 12:10, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.” The honor of God (His covenant with us) will change our attitude. When we live in honor, it brings God into the situation.

When we honor the covenant God offers us, He’ll honor us with love, grace, mercy, and prosperity.

You are God’s greatest treasure! Romans 8:16-17 says, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ…”

The devil will try to make you feel like you’re not special. Religion and other Christians can make you feel like you’re not worthy. However, when you get a revelation of who you are in Christ, no one can make you feel inferior or unworthy without your consent.

It doesn’t matter what you’ve gone through, what you’re going through, or what you will go through in the days ahead, you still have value and are important to God! For something to have value, it must have an owner. Think about the things you own! They’re important to you because you value them. You paid the price for them to be yours, or someone paid the price and then gave them to you as a gift. You are no exception. You have an owner in Jesus Christ, and if you were the only person in the world, He would search for you until he finds you, rescues you, and draws you to Himself because you are valuable to Him. He paid the price for you with His Blood.

God is no respecter of persons and has already blessed you with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. (Ephesians 1:3) When you get an understanding of this, and that God is no respecter of persons, it is easier to receive everything that He has already blessed you with – peace, joy, revelation, finances, health, etc. If God will bless anyone, He will bless you!! Just receive what He’s already done for you!

Actually, God has actually picked you out for Himself before the foundations of the world. (Ephesians 1:4) You are chosen by Him; set apart for Him; handpicked just for God and His purposes! First Peter 2:9 tells you that “you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people.” You are a peculiar person! That means you are very special to God; His very own possession. Handpicked. Chosen. Worthy. God’s greatest creation and His very special treasure! He loves you with an everlasting love.

Extraordinary means: “Beyond the common order, beyond the common method and beyond the common course of things.” Another definition is “Remarkable, uncommon or rare.” If you’ll believe God, what was once rare in your life is going to become the norm.

However, some people have trouble believing this – not only today but in Habakkuk as well as Paul’s day. Habakkuk 1:5 tells us, “Look among the nations and watch – Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you.”

God’s still saying “I’m going to work a work in your day that will be so marvelous, so wonderful, so extraordinary, that some will not be able to believe it, even if it’s clearly described to you in detail!” When God makes statements like this, we need to realize that it’s time to stretch our faith, stretch our imaginations and think bigger than we’ve ever thought before.

It’s time to forget the past. Isaiah 43:18-19 says “Do not remember the former things; neither consider the things of old, Behold I am doing a new thing…” God’s saying it’s going to happen and you can expect it to come to pass in your life or, you can just hear about it happening to others – which do you want?

To live an extraordinary life, you must learn to confess “I’m living in the realm of the extraordinary.” The question is “Do you believe He is able to bring the extraordinary to pass in your life?” God’s will was, and still is to heal people and make you wealthy; however, they aren’t healed automatically or become prosperous just because it’s His will. People have to take responsibility to receive their healing or finances.

If you’re going to see the extraordinary become the norm in your life, you must take responsibility for expecting God’s Word to come to pass. Not only for yourself, but so He can use you to be an example for others to see His goodness, and reveal how much He loves you. He wants to bless you with an extraordinary – rare, uncommon or remarkable – lifestyle to get the attention of other people and draw them near to Him to change their lives as well!

“Every God-begotten person conquers the world’s ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith.” (1 John 5:4, The Message Bible) I never tire of teaching and talking about faith, and what a great topic to stir you up about faith the first of the year!

No matter the circumstance or situation in your life today; the desires of your heart; or the secret dreams you are hoping will come to pass this year – faith is what will bring them into manifestation! It’s not begging, whining or crying that will bring them on the scene. It is simply your faith!

It doesn’t matter if it didn’t come yesterday or the day before yesterday! It is getting up today and confessing the promise of God you are standing on to get your manifestation of what you’re expecting.

Faith is an action. It’s not moved by what you see, what you hear, or what you feel. It’s not being moved by what your five senses are telling you. Faith is saying “Thank You!” no matter what you are facing in the natural realm.

Faith believes in your heart that what God said in His Word is true and that He is faithful to complete it, no matter how long it takes – it will come to pass. Your faith in God and His Word (because they are one in the same) is the power that enables you to simply say “Thank You!” in advance of a manifestation. Faith is what gives you the confidence to say “Thank You!”

We all need to build our faith and the only way to do that is by hearing the Word of God. Romans 10:17 reminds us that “… faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” You may think you know the Word, but when you hear it another time, that may be the exact time that it drops down into your heart and you have divine revelation that changes your life!

Your faith will change your world! It will bring a manifestation into your life of what God has already done for you. It will bring a manifestation of healing, finances, peace, joy, victory, a new job, clothes, deliverance for loved ones, promotion – you choose what you need in your life and exercise your faith! Be like Abraham, the Father of Faith, and say “Thank You!” because you know in whom you have believed! God is Faithful!

I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward–to Jesus.

So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision–you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.

Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.

But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.

My dear, dear friends! I love you so much. I do want the very best for you. You make me feel such joy, fill me with such pride. Don’t waver. Stay on track, steady in God. Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Our God and Father abounds in glory that just pours out into eternity. Receive and experience the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, deep, deep within yourselves. (Philippians 3 & 4, The Message Bible)

It’s the beginning of a new year and although the calendar has been changed, God is not moved by the date on your calendar! However, how many of us think that with the beginning of the New Year we need to make new goals, new resolutions, and create a new vision – only to be disappointed and discouraged within the month because we have not met those goals, dreams, plans, and new resolutions?

As you start this New Year, I would like to encourage you to try something new. Don’t do the same thing you’ve done every year – don’t make futile, unreasonable expectations for yourself. Instead, spend some time with God, pray in the Holy Spirit and get His plan for you for this year. Then, make your plans in accordance with His plan for your life.

When you have His plan – His vision – for your life, you can go forward with great expectation. What you believe in your heart will determine your expectation level. If you expect to success, you will surely succeed. On the other hand, if you expect to fail or think thoughts of failure, you will undoubtedly fail. What you believe in your heart is what you will become on the outside.

If you want a personal breakthrough in your life, you will want to change what you believe in your heart because your belief system will determine your level of expectation. In turn, your expectation will determine your actions. John Maxwell says a “belief is a habit of mind in which confidence becomes a conviction that you embrace. In the long run a belief is more than an idea that a person possesses. It is an idea that possesses a person.”

Benjamin Franklin said, “Blessed is he who expects nothing for he shall never be disappointed.” If you want to achieve something great this year, or in the future, you must be willing to be disappointed; however, you must expect to succeed. Although you will make mistakes, you must expect to win and keep on trying because you will eventually succeed.

Contrary to what many people think, life doesn’t get better by chance, it gets better by a choice to change. It’s the change in your thoughts that create a change in your actions which creates the results you desire in life. If you don’t believe in something, you won’t be able to live it. I challenge you this year to be the kind of person that wants to get things done without the concern of making mistakes and failing.

Believe in yourself, your gifts and your talents and go confidently in the direction of your dreams this year! Proverbs 23:7a says, “As a man thinks in his heart so is he…” If you want different results this year, change what you are thinking!

At church last night, a friend shared a Bible verse with me that’s my new ‘refrigerator’ verse! I’m so excited about it because this verse has stirred up that ‘bulldog tenacity’ attitude inside me to enforce the enemy’s defeat in my life and will bring great victory and joy to my life. I recognize this verse as a new weapon in my spiritual arsenal to use against the enemy when he tries to attack me again with the same symptoms in my body or my life that I’ve previously overcome.

She shared Nahum 1:9 with me, “…He will make an utter end of it. Affliction will not rise up a second time.” OMG! (Oh my gosh!) That was a light bulb moment for me! I got so excited when she read that to me. When I got home I had to read it for myself! Nahum 1:7-9 reads, “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him. But with an overflowing flood He will make an utter end of its place, and darkness will pursue His enemies. What do you conspire against the LORD? He will make an utter end of it. Affliction will not rise up a second time.”

This is a Selah verse for me! I’ve paused and I’ve thought about this…not just last night but it was on my mind again this morning! This verse is an answer to prayer because I have an issue, actually several, that keep trying to come back in my body and my life that torment me; HOWEVER, I now have this verse – God’s promise to me – to use on my enemy to enforce his defeat in my body and my life! How awesome is that?!!

God has given me the authority to enforce the utter end of my enemy and the affliction he tries to bring back into my body and life will not rise up against me a second time! Hallelujah!!! That is victory my friend!!

I challenge you, as you read this, to take this verse and make it your own. Enforce the enemy’s defeat in your life today! Settle in your heart and in your mind that you don’t have to live with whatever sickness or disease the enemy is trying to put in your body; or the poverty and lack he tries to bring to any area of your life. Think about it; get ahold of it: “Affliction will not rise up a second time.”

As I sit by our Christmas tree in the quiet, stillness of the predawn morning, I enjoy looking at the glowing red lights shining a reflection on the red ornaments with gift boxes and tissue paper hiding the special gifts for our family and friends. Proverbs 11:25 comes to mind, “The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.”

I remember several years ago, we had no gifts under the tree for our children, yet they had gifts Christmas morning. Generous souls blessed our family and they were blessed in the process.

Since then, we’ve been able to give to others and we couldn’t help but be blessed ourselves. The joy that fills your heart when you give is a true blessing from God. What a treat it has been to see our children, who are actually young adults now, plan what they are going to give to their friends and family this Christmas. They are so excited. Little do they know the blessing and joy they will experience in their hearts as they give to others.

How much more exciting it is to give an eternal gift; a life changing gift of a word fitly spoken in due season or an act of kindness that has a “priceless” price tag on it? You know what I’m talking about – simply showing someone the love of God through your kind actions and words!

Kindness and giving are not just for the holiday season; it’s for everyday life! As you give, give generously; you can’t help but be blessed generously in return. My prayer for you is that you will not only embrace a lifestyle of generous giving, but that you will embrace God’s love for you and let Him bless you lavishly in return. His desire as your Heavenly Daddy is to pour out His love on you – and he does that through other people.

Pride would keep you from receiving anything from God or others; however, a humble person has learned to receive by simply being like Father Abraham. He received by faith beforehand by simply saying “Thank You!”